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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. EINSTEIN & S. KORNPROBST. ELECTRIC METER.

No. 437,754. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet r J. EINSTEIN & S. KQRN-PROBST.

ELEOTRIG METER No. 437,754. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

7712mm: Maw/W H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB EINSTEIN AND SEBASTIAN KORNPROBST, OF MUNICH, GERMANY ELECTRIC M ETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,754, dated October '7, 1890.

Application filed January 14, 1890. Serial No. 336,873. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAooB EINSTEIN, a subject of the King of VViirtemberg, and SE- BASTIAN KORNPROBST, a subject of the King of Bavaria, residing both at Munich, Bavaria, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Meters and Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric meters and recorders, which, when interposed at any point of the circuit, will at any moment indicate the current flowing through the circuit, (amperes, volts, Watts,)

and by means of a counting device the current used during a certain space of time will be registered.

The essential feature of the invention c011- sists in a revolving body communicating by means of an intermediate connection with a registering device, the revolving body or the intermediate connection being adjusted according to the strength of the electric current, so that the speed of rotation is correspondingly altered, either directly through the current to be measured by interposing a so lenoid or indirectly through a branch current in which are interposed two electro-magnets acting in opposite directions.

The novel apparatus and several modified constructions of the same are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a construction of the apparatus in which the intermediate connection is displaced directly by a solenoid. Fig. 2 is an improved construction of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,by which the revolving body can be simplified. Fig. 3 represents a construction similar to that of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a diagram of an apparatus in which the intermediate connection is displaced indirectly through an electro-motor, (relay,) which is actuated when the strength of the electric current (tension and energy) is altered. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the contrivance effecting the actuation of the electro-motor, (relay) Figs. 5 and 6 are modified constructions of the apparatus having the electro-motor, (relay) The apparatus consists of a revolving body R, movable round a shaft A and put in uniform rotation by a mechanical or electricpower motor, such as an electric pendulum. A shaft 0. is arranged parallel to one of the longitudinal sides 8 of the revolving body, the said shaft being adjustable in bearings Z land carrying a frictional disk V. This disk V is rotated by frictional contact from the revolving body, and the rotation of the disk is more rapid the more the disk approaches the base B of the body R. The shaft or carries a worm or toothed wheel g, by means of which the revolutions are registered by a counting device. When the shaft or is adjustable, it is connected by a feather connection to the worm g. It may be remarked here that inversely the revolving body may be carried by the shaft 0. and the frictional disk by the shaft A, in which case the disk V is rotated by the mechanical or electric power motor, and communicates its rotary motion to the body R. In other words, the body R and disk V are adjustable with relation to one another, and this adjustability can be secured by making either the rotary body or the disk adjustable, as desired.

y For recording the current (tension or energy) used in a circuit during a certain space of time, it is only necessary to render the speed of rotation dependent upon the quantity, tension, and energy of the electric current at the respective moment. This is done as follows: To the lower end of the shaft 0t an iron core 7.: is secured, which is influenced by the electro-magnet or solenoid S, placed in the circuit.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As long as no current passes through the circuit, the core penetrates up to a determined depth into the solenoid. The frictional disk V is in the height of the point t of the revolving body R, but it is not put in rotation. hen, now, a current flows through the circuit, the core 70 is drawn deeper into the solenoid, the lower end of the core coming up from about the position marked. by l to about the position marked 2, Fig. 1. By this motion the shaft a and the frictional disk V are raised and the latter rotates at a speed corresponding to the circumferential speed of the diameter 0' \Vhen the strength of current (tension and energy) increases in the circuit, the core is drawn deeper and deeper into the solenoid S, and in consequence the disk V, owing to the continuously-increasing diameter of the revolving body, rotates more and more quickly. The revolution of the disk V depends, therefore, directly on the strength of current, (tension and energy,) so that the consumption of current can directly be deter- :mined by the recorded number of revolutions provided that the different radii r r r B of the body R are proportional to the spaces 1 2 3 b of the core K. To obtain this proportioning the revolving body cannot be a regular body, as the distances of movement of the core K, when the current is doubled or tripled in strength, are not of double or triple length; but the revolving body must be shaped, such as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This shape, however, offers numerous difficulties.

To allow of the use of a regularly-shaped revolving body the generatrix of which is rectilinear, I attach to the core a suitablyshaped hollow or solid body 3, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) immersed in a liquid contained in a vessel, so that either owing to the variable buoy ancy (see Fig. 2) or owing to the variable loss of weight (see Fig. 3) the spaces traversed by the core K are proportional to the uniformlyincreasing diameters of the body R.

As particularly in larger apparatus the force necessary for actuating the shaft aand the frictional disk V is a rather considerable one it is advisable to interpose an electromotor, (relay) Fig. 4 is a diagram of such an arrangement. 1

From the main circuit H is led off a branch current flowing through two electro-magnets E and E the armatures a and a of the same, and the pins or contacts t and t to the contact-points c and 0 while the other pole is connected with the needle Z of a galvanometer, such as an ampere, volt, or watt meter.

Between the two electro-magnets is suspended a rack T, provided on opposite sides with teeth and moved upward by the extended armature a and downward by the armature a The upper end of the rack T carries two insulated contact-points c and 0 between which moves the galvanometer-needle Z. The rack T is connected by means of a cord with the shaft a, carrying the frictional disk V.

The operation is as follows: When no current passes through the circuit, the galvanometer-needle is at rest and the frictional disk is not rotated by the revolving body R.

When a current passes through the circuit,

however feeble the current may be, the galvanometer-needle will move and form contact with c. The branch circuit is now closed, the electro-magnet E attracts its armature a, and the rack T is moved one tooth upward. At the same moment the current is broken at t the armature a is drawn back again by its spring and the contact is by this re-established at t and the rack moved again one tooth until the needle Z has arrived in a new rest position and the rack has been raised to such an extent that theneedle Z no longer touches the contact-point c. In the same measure as Z is raised the rack T is also moved upward and the frictional diskV lowered, and the speed of rotation of the latter increases in the same proportion as the disk V approaches to the base B of the body R. The speed of rotation of diskV is therefore proportional to the stroke of the galvanometer needle and in consequence to the quantity of the current passed through the apparatus, provided the graduation be correct. In lieu of fastening the contact-points c and c to the rack they may be connected also with the galvanometer-needle, as is illustrated in Fig.4. ple contact-piece p applied to the rack.

Figs. 5 and 6 are modified constructions of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 5 consists, as in the former case, of the revolving body R, th e frictional disk V, movable with its shaft, the rack T, connected therewith, an electric pendulum P serving to actuate the revolving body by means of the pawl m and raising and lowering the frictional disk V, and the mechan ism necessary for transmitting motion from the pendulum to the frictional mechanism with the relay actuating the latter.

The apparatus works in such a manner that the galvanometer-needle Z of the dial or meter A moves between two contact-points c and c and according as it comes in contact with c or c the electro-magnet E or E is vitalized.

Between E and F moves the armature a carried by two spiral springs f and f and guiding the lever 71, jointed to the pendulum P. Vhen the armature a is attracted by the electro-magnet E or E the lever h is at thesame time raised or lowered, and thus gears together with the toothed wheel Z or Z The corresponding toothed wheel is then turned one tooth at each stroke of the pendulum, and this motion is transmitted to the rack T, actuating the frictional disk V. v

Fig. 6 shows an amperometer, consisting of a solenoid furnished with an iron core and effectuating the closure of the current.

The strength-tensionor the energy of the current may be recorded as desired.

The advantages of this apparatus, compared with the hitherto-known contrivance, consists of the fact that even the smallest quantities of electricity are recorded and that the apparatus is independent of exterior influences. The apparatus may serve at the same time, also, for determinating the current momentarily flowing through the circuit. For this purpose it is necessary only to apply to the rack T a needle moving over a scale. The apparatus is furthermore transportable without being exposed to be damaged by shocks, and the indications of the same are not exposed to the effects of varying temperatures. As the apparatus can be arranged for indicating the electricity passing at any moment through the There is in this case a simjustment of the rotary body and connection,

- a motor or pendulum P, for actuating said rotary body and adjusting mechanism, and an electric motor or relay for bringing said motor P into connection With the adjusting mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JACOB EINSTEIN. SEBASTIAN KORNPROBST.

W'itnesses:

LUDWIG FRIEHOFF, CARL IAUKNER. 

